Face mask with hearing protection

ABSTRACT

A face mask combined with hearing protection comprises a piece of material sized and is adapted to cover at least a portion of a face and includes a mask securing member. A hearing protector securing member is fixed to the mask securing member and a hearing protector is fixed to the hearing protector securing member.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/759,553 filed Feb. 1, 2013.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to protection from environmental causedharm and in particular to protection from inhaling airborne contaminantsand environmental caused hearing loss.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Face masks are worn to prevent inhalation of or the spread of airbornecontaminants. For example, surgical masks, a type of face mask, are wornin dental, medical and surgical environments to prevent inhalation ofairborne pathogens either exhaled by a patient or created by a surgicalprocedure. Face masks are also worn by dental and medical personal tominimize the risk of cross infection from dental and medical personnelto a patient. Face masks are also worn by carpenters, insulationinstallers, and other tradesmen to prevent inhalation of airborneparticulate material created by their work.

Many users of face masks also have a need for hearing protection. Forexample, a tradesman in using his power tools creates both airborneparticulate matter and decibel levels that can be harmful to hishearing.

In dental, medical and surgical environments, dental and medicalpersonnel often operate instrumentation that produces harmful decibellevels. For example, suction instruments and air driven or electricallydriven rotary instruments are often used in close proximity to theclinician's ears. These instruments produce decibel levels in whichprolonged use without adequate hearing protection can result in hearingloss over time.

Occupations unrelated to the dental and medical professions or to thetrades can similarly benefit from protection against environmentalcaused insult. Other examples include nail technicians, sanitationworkers, chemical or industrial plant operators, mass transit users, orany other user who desires both the protection of a face mask and earplugs, all of whom would benefit from the presently disclosed face maskwith hearing protection.

Accordingly, there is still a continuing need for improved protectiondesigns. The present invention fulfills this need and further providesrelated advantages.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One preferred embodiment provides a face mask combined with hearingprotection that comprises a piece of material sized and adapted to coverat least a portion of a face; a first and second ear engaging member; afirst and second hearing protector securing member fixed respectively tothe first and second ear engaging member; and a first and second hearingprotector fixed to the respective hearing protector securing member.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention provides a face maskwith hearing protection that comprises a piece of material sized andadapted to cover at least a portion of a face; a mask securing memberhaving a first and second end fixed to the material on opposite ends ofthe material; a first and second hearing protector securing member fixedto the mask securing member; and a first and second hearing protectorfixed to the respective hearing protector securing member.

The presently disclosed invention also provides for a “clean” masksystem that includes a mask provided in a “clean” condition packagedwithin a sealed container.

The presently disclosed invention also provides for a hearing protectorcomprising a removable attachment member fixed to a first end of ahearing protector securing member and a hearing protector fixed to asecond end.

One advantage of the present invention is the convenience of havinghearing protection and a face mask combined in a single unit.

Another advantage is that having hearing protection in combination witha face mask increases the likelihood that hearing protection will beworn.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following more detailed description of the preferredembodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings whichillustrate by way of example the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the present invention. These drawings are incorporatedin and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or moreembodiments of the present invention, and together with the descriptionserve to explain the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 1 depicts a surgical mask according to one non-limiting embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 2 depicts the hearing protection component of the surgical mask ofFIG. 1.

FIGS. 3-6 depict the hearing protection component of FIG. 2 with variousattachment members.

FIG. 7 depicts an alternative non-limiting embodiment of the presentinvention.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following more detailed description of the preferredembodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings whichillustrate by way of example the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention aredisclosed; however, it is to be understood that the disclosedembodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodiedin various forms. The figures are not necessary to scale and somefeatures may be exaggerated to show details of particular components.Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed are notto be interpreted as limiting but merely as a basis for the claims andas a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art tovariously employ the invention. Where possible, like reference numeralshave been used to refer to like parts in the several alternativeembodiments of the invention described.

Although the following exemplar refers to a surgical mask this is butone example. The invention described is contemplated for use with anypurpose that would benefit from hearing protection when a face mask isindicated.

FIG. 1 provides a depiction of the face mask with hearing protection 10according to a non-limiting, representative embodiment in which two masksecuring members are employed. A first and second mask securing member,for example, loops 110, 115 are each engaged with the mask 10 at a toplocation and a bottom location, a mask securing member positioned onopposite sides of the mask 10 to form first and second loops 110, 115used to retain the mask 10 around the ears of the user (not shown) andsecure the mask 10 in place.

A first and second hearing protector securing member, for example, loops120, 125 are provided and each respectively fixes to the first andsecond mask securing members 110, 115. First and second hearingprotectors, for example, first and second ear plugs 130, 135, are fixedto the respective first and second hearing protector securing members120, 125.

The face mask 10 is formed of material 20 adapted to cover at least aportion of the mouth and nose of the user. Optionally, the mask 10 canbe pleated to allow the mask to expand.

The make-up of the mask securing members 110, 115 are similarly notlimited and can be made from, for example, strap, string or string-likematerial. Preferably, the mask securing members 110, 115 are ofsufficient elasticity such that it can be stretched to accommodatevarying face sizes while still providing a protective fit.

In one form of face mask 10, depicted in FIG. 1, two mask securingmembers, for example, loops 110, 115 are provided to be placed aroundeach ear of the user. Alternatively, depicted in FIG. 7, the mask 10 isprovided with a mask securing member, for example, loop 210 attached ata mask first and second side 215, 220. The mask securing member 210 isworn around the head of the user.

Similar considerations also apply to the hearing protector securingmembers 120, 125, which can, for example, be selected from the samestrap, string or string-like material that make up the mask securingmember(s) 110, 115, 210.

FIG. 2 provides a depiction of the hearing protector 130, 135, forexample, an ear plug. The hearing protector 130, 135 is provided with anattachment point, for example, orifice 140 in which the ear hearingprotector securing member 120, 125 penetrates to retentively engage theear hearing protector 130, 135.

In preferred embodiments, depicted in FIGS. 3-6, the hearing protectorsecuring members 120, 125 are removably, retentively secured to the masksecuring members 110, 115 (FIG. 1) or 210 (FIG. 6), with a removableattachment member. The removable attachment member may be, for example,a hook and loop member 160 (FIG. 3), a clip 162 (FIG. 4), or a snap 164(FIG. 5). The hearing protector securing members 120, 125 are notlimited to loops, for example they may be, for example, a tether 166 asdepicted in FIG. 6.

The invention also contemplates retrofitting hearing protector securingmembers 120, 125 and hearing protectors 130, 135 to existing,non-hearing protector equipped masks (not shown). Such non-hearingprotector equipped masks can be modified by, for example, fixing thehearing protector securing member attachment member to the existing masksecuring member(s). Such attachment may be non-removable or removablethrough the use of, for example, a hook and loop member 160 (FIG. 3), aclip 162 (FIG. 4), or a snap 164 (FIG. 5).

The presently disclosed invention also contemplates providing the facemasks in a “clean form”. As used herein, a clean form refers to a facemask that has been manufactured under manufacturing and distributionpractices that minimize the chance of contamination during themanufacturing process and transmission through the supply chain. Forexample, the face masks can be housed in a sealed package (not shown) tomaintain “cleanliness” of the face mask until use.

Although the present invention has been described in connection withspecific examples and embodiments, those skilled in the art willrecognize that it is capable of other variations and modificationswithin its scope. These examples and embodiments are intended as typicalof rather than in any way limiting on the scope of the present inventionas presented in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A face mask comprising a piece of material sizedand adapted to cover at least a portion of a face; a first and secondear engaging member each fixed to the piece of material; a first andsecond hearing protector securing member fixed respectively to the firstand second ear engaging member; and a first and second hearing protectorfixed respectively to the first and second hearing protector securingmember.
 2. The face mask of claim 1 wherein the hearing protectorsecuring member comprises a member selected from the group consisting ofa loop and a tether.
 3. The face mask of claim 1 wherein the hearingprotector securing members are removably fixed.
 4. The face mask ofclaim 3 wherein the hearing protector securing member further comprisesan attachment member selected from the group consisting of hook andloop, a clip, and a snap.
 5. The face mask of claim 1 wherein thehearing protector is an ear plug.
 6. The face mask of claim 1 whereinthe hearing protector securing member is a loop and the hearingprotector is an ear plug.
 7. The face mask of claim 6 wherein eachhearing protector securing member is removably attached to therespective ear engaging member.
 8. The face mask of claim 1 wherein theface mask is manufactured and distributed in a clean condition.
 9. Aface mask comprising a piece of material sized and adapted to cover atleast a portion of a face; a mask securing member fixed to the piece ofmaterial; a first and second hearing protector securing member fixed tothe mask securing member; and a first and second hearing protector fixedrespectively to the first and second hearing protector securing member.10. The face mask of claim 9 wherein the hearing protector securingmember comprises a member selected from the group consisting of a loopand a tether.
 11. The face mask of claim 9 wherein the hearing protectorsecuring members are removably fixed.
 12. The face mask of claim 11wherein the hearing protector securing member further comprises anattachment member selected from the group consisting of hook and loop, aclip, and a snap.
 13. The face mask of claim 9 wherein the hearingprotector is an ear plug.
 14. The face mask of claim 9 wherein thehearing protector securing member is a loop and the hearing protector isan ear plug.
 15. The face mask of claim 14 wherein each hearingprotector securing member is removably attached to the face masksecuring member.
 16. The face mask of claim 9 wherein the face mask ismanufactured and distributed in a clean condition.
 17. A hearingprotector comprising an attachment member fixed to a first end of ahearing protector securing member and a hearing protector fixed to thesecond end of the securing member.
 18. The hearing protector of claim 17wherein the hearing protector securing member comprises a lengthselected from the group consisting of a loop and a tether.
 19. Thehearing protector of claim 17 wherein the attachment member comprises anattachment selected from the group consisting of hook and loop, a clip,and a snap.
 20. The hearing protector of claim 17 wherein the hearingprotector securing member is a loop and the hearing protector is an earplug.